Hoops

Wildcats Game Presentation - Suggestions for 17/18

Yea, seems to work if they can pack it out every game..

Just need the on court graphics.

I wonder if their theory is that the kids like the repetition/familiarity factor, and the adults are there for the basketball so they're not put off too much by it.

The wildcats game day experience is boring once you've been to a few games.
Same old shit.

A lot of the suggestions above have merit.

So? The vast majority are sheep and have never experienced bball anywhere else interstate or overseas.

"It's a myth the 'Cats have the best entertainment experience. Most other clubs do it better. Wildcats are lazy and trot out the same bs every game."
Yep, Wildcats are so rubbish its no wonder they can barely fill a 14,000 seat Arena

@Kobe I'm sure if every other team can afford to do it, then the Wildcats would be able to

Totally agree with anon about the national anthem, it's on way too early and should be used to get the crowd in the mood like with AFL/NRL finals where it's played directly before a game

The DJ needs to be replaced

Music would change with new and more alert DJ.

Lastly can we have a change in the booze that is sold at games, it sucks and the Hopman Cup having Canadian clubs that they sell to us due to excess stock is just teasing. Surely this isn't a Perth Arena decision but a Perth Wildcats one to make.

Firstly marching band need to learn how to march as they drag their feet and I'm not sure what most of their songs that they are playing are.

Totally agree with anon about the national anthem, it's on way too early and should be used to get the crowd in the mood like with AFL/NRL finals where it's played directly before a game... only if have the ideas above implemented for the starting 5s.

I know they are called Knightcorp dancers but can we have some kind or cheerleading, they give us all the flipping with the slam dunk team and that's what we should see from the girls and they drastically need a new choreographer as the routines are so boring.

I liked the addition of the Lynx mascot and id like to see her more regularly along with giant Wilbur, the more the merrier when it comes to mascots and lowering the affect of the red wankers as they are only there to annoy.

The DJ needs to be replaced, I want someone on the ball that plays "hit the road Jack" or "charge" or other sound bites at just the right moment, if you think I'm asking too much then why do others and I'm especially thinking Adelaide play the right sound bite at the right time... I don't want a player getting to the bench and then having us wave him off. This is something that is in the essence of basketball that you don't get with other sports and adds to the game night experience. Music would change with new and more alert DJ.

T-shirt cannons, like seriously what's the go there, you spend good money on gold seating along the court and they shoot it way over your head or towards the fans that pay less to attend, uttter bullshit.

I don't really like Lachie but I agree he is very important to the Wildcats at home and if you get annoyed at him asking you to get up off your seat and cheer then exactly why are you there? I go to scream and cheer on my team and see quality basketball and he helps with that tremendously.

I'd like more celebrity integration too, if they are in the crowd then tell us if you like.

Need far more funny segments, that St. Valentine's Day skit from years ago where Wilbur got a gf only to find out she was a 36ers supporter and ended up with a cream pie to the face was legendary and more of them wouldn't go astray.

I love when they incorporate holidays such as Halloween and think they should do more like that where they change up the music and the feel of the game.

Sounds ridiculous but can we actually get people from the crowd shooting the half court shot that can get the ball atleast to the foul line on the full... absolute disappointments and like they weee trying not to give away the money.

Lastly can we have a change in the booze that is sold at games, it sucks and the Hopman Cup having Canadian clubs that they sell to us due to excess stock is just teasing. Surely this isn't a Perth Arena decision but a Perth Wildcats one to make.

Well it's no exactly "blacking" out the crowd, but definitely dim the lights as you move further up the stadium.

I dont like when the lights are blacked out on the crowd. I want to be able to see the crowd - its a good look for TV. Blacking it out gives the impression that its an empty stadium. Plus you miss out on the seeing the emotions of the crowd.

Why would you want to hide 11000 people when you are trying to convince sponsors that there are people watching the game?

@Kobe I'm sure if every other team can afford to do it, then the Wildcats would be able to

With the lights on the crowd - the lighting set up means both the crowd and court are covered by the lights (or so I believe). If they were to focus lights only on the court and 'black out' the crowd I assume they would need to alter the Arena house lights or get a new lighting rig that only focuses on the court.

Somebody should do this for Hawks and every other team for that matter.

Firstly, the Wildcats need to play some music in the warmup, rather than advertising.

Would also love to see the Cats darken the lights on the crowd.

Lachie's good although doesn't have to talk the whole game.
Don't like the marching band, good musicians but it's boring and does nothing to get the crowd interested at the start.
Change up of songs would be good, no more nutbush.

I like Lachie. Agree he can commentate a little too much sometimes which I think could be cut down a little, but overall he does a great job.

I think people miss the point sometimes of Lachie's "everyone stand up" moments though. He doesn't just do it for the fun of it to entertain us. Something he is very very good at is reading the momentum of the game and timing. He can see when the team is lacking, needs that extra boost and when the crowd is restless with the game situation. He helps rally everyone together, get the crowd behind the team again and acts as almost the 'coach' for the crowd.

Almost every single time he does it the momentum swings back in the Wildcats favour, they either extending out to a big lead or getting themselves back into it. Without him getting the crowd into it again it wouldn't happen.

It doesn't show up on the stat sheet, but the guy is seriously worth an extra few points or so per game imo.

It's a myth the 'Cats have the best entertainment experience. Most other clubs do it better. Wildcats are lazy and trot out the same bs every game.

Okay I'm very glad this thread has been created. I've been a Wildcats member for 5 years (ever since they moved to the Arena) but attended a game at Hisense this year too. Personally, the game presentation at Hisense was far superior and professional to that of the Wildcats.

Firstly, the Wildcats need to play some music in the warmup, rather than advertising. Being a player myself, one of the best feelings is being able to warm up to current music, rather than listening to an ad about "Thinking Thrifty."

I also believe that they need to move player introductions/national anthem to right before tipoff. No point introducing the players when you can count the number of fans in the stadium on one hand. Also agree that a 3D court projection would be amazing.

Absolutely love Lachy Reid as a person, however he does sometimes get a little carried away. Telling everybody to stand up, clap their hands is a little annoying - eg. if Wildcats are getting thumped, fans are obviously going to be frustrated so no point trying to "force" the atmosphere. Let that be done by the players for making great plays. He also tends to commentate the game a little over the microphone. Melbourne United's courtside announcer did an excellent job - called fouls, who scored, etc and didn't talk during play.

Would also love to see the Cats darken the lights on the crowd. Will help draw your focus to the game and will add a more professional feel to the presentation. I remember when Adelaide did this, and it make Titanium Security Arena look so much better.

Now to the main part: the music.
I think it's now time to change up the music. Keep the classics, eg. We Will Rock You, Joker and the Thief, Get Up Offa That Thing, etc. but the majority need to go. I also believe this is the fourth consecutive year that they have used "Good Times" by Jimmy Barnes for when they introduce the Knight Corp Dancers. That definitely needs to change. The key point which I believe should change is WHEN they play the music. I noted this at the United game and they do this in the NBA too, but they only play song soundbites AFTER the team scores, so for the next possession down the floor they will play a soundbite. This worked very well. They also didn't have to play a song/sound effect on every possession during the game. Sometimes they would leave it quiet so you could hear the "sounds of the game" which worked very well being able to hear what was happening out on the court. I also don't believe the marching band adds much benefit to the overall experience and presentation. I do like however where they have started playing the "defense" chant where the organ goes up an octave every time (don't know if this is the correct terminology or not haha) but it's the one they play at Lakers' games.

There is a lot they can improve on as I personally believe the overall experience is very good, except the presentation is average. Definitely not bad, but there is no doubt room for improvement.

Think the final song in game for a win is nutbush city limits.

I would like to see more music variety, funnest game was 90's night and we didn't hear those songs ever again or even another night dedicated to other songs.

Get rid of the marching band or limit them to how many times they can play.

You can tell the people that are there as a once off as they point at wilbur swinging in from the rafters, its old for everyone else.

t-shirt cannons make it to the same small section of seats every week, feels pretty pointless.

And I swear I could do that opening cheerleading routine, ive seen it that many times.

black out for starting 5 intros (don’t think the lighting allows for this though?), less lights focused on the crowd

Yeah I acknowledge we have it pretty good as Wildcats supporters in terms of game night presentations and a lot of other teams would love to be able to do half of what the Cats do. Keeping it fresh is the key.

I reckon they should get rid of Lachy. Shouts like a Collingwood supporter and his go to crowd arousal format is "on your feet" which gives me the shits. Find someone with a good voice ala the Chicago Bulls guy.

Good list, agree with most of your points. I think they have a lot of things right and are leading the NBL in game night entertainment experience. The challenge for them now is basically they just need ways to continue freshen it up so it doesn't get too repetitive each week while still keeping some of the 'traditional' things (eg: the regular songs played to start a quarter etc).

On-court projector graphics for Starting Fives like teh NBA.. wooot

Worth a try I guess...

You should email your suggestions to the club.

Don't know how he will handle both jobs